Knitting machine and method



Juiy 15, 1947 H, KE T AL 7 2,424,033

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD I Filed 061,- IO, 1945 3 SheetsSheet l INVENTORS HARE/501v E MLKER B AND HAROLD Wa KER ,4 T TOR/VEX y -H. HILKER ET-AL- 2,424,033

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 10, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN T 0R5 MRR/so/v E Hm. KER

AND M92040 W51. KER

A 7- TOR/V5 x Patented July 15, 1947 burg, W- Va., assignors to Interwoven Stocking Company, New-Brunswick, N. J., .a corporation of New Jersey Application October '10, 1945, :Serial No. 621,516

19 Claims.

1 The present invention-relates toknittingmachines and to the art of knitting. In producing a knitted article, for example an article of hosiery, it-is frequently necessary to make oneor more yarn changes during the process of knitting. For example, one portion of the .article may be knit of different threads than another or a portion may he..-knit with an additional thread or threads. .The introduction orwithdrawal ofa thread or th'reads during the process of knitting an. article results in loose thread ends which havein the past been a source of serious diificultiesin machine knitting. For example, the looseends .of thread resulting. from a thread change may-get into the hooks of the needles during the knitting of :a-subsequent portion of the article and be knit into the fabric, thereby causing a defect. 'Moreover; by getting into the hooks of the needles aand overloading them, the loose ends may cause cutting ofthe-fabric or a complete cutoff so that the machine has to be rethreaded andstartedup again. The loss in time, materials and machine production resulting from these interruption -and from the production of a high percentage of defective articles has been so serious-as to render it commercially impracticable-to produce certain types of arti-' cles on certain machines.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these difficulties and to eliminate cutoffs and defective articles caused by loosethread ends resulting from a thread chang during the process of knitting. In accordance with the present invention, the loose .ends of thread are controlled in such manner as to prevent their getting into the hooks of the needles during the knitting of-a subsequent portion of the article following a thread change. The defects and interruptions in-knitting heretofore resulting from the loose ends of thread are therebyavoided.

The objects and advantages of the invention will appearmore fully fromthe following description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings-which illustrate by way of example one manner of carryingour invention into practice.

In the. drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a knitting machine provided-withmechanism for carrying out our invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partially in section as viewed from the line 2-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is-anenlarged side elevation of a portion of the machine asviewed approximately from the linez3-3 in Fig. 2, a portion of the machine being shown in section for greater .clarity.

Fig. 4 ,is.-an.end elevation of the mechanism shown .in 3.,- a viewed approximately from the linei 41:41jnfFig. 3. For. purposes .of clarity,

2 an .arc t aetuat n wm a th 1 0 of th fi u e islsh wn in de o ed f Fig. 5 is avertical section taken approximately .onthe line 5-- 5 in Fig. 4.

The invention is applicable to a wide variety fkni ine-.m chin s a n chan ma ing a thread change-duringthe process of knit.- ting. Such nachines customarily have means for movi-ng one or more thread feeds into and out of feeding position and cutter and binder mechanism for severing a thread. whenthe feeding of that thread is discontinuedand-holding I one endv of the severed thread until it is reintroduced. The term cutter and binder is herein used, generically to designate mechanism for severing and holdin the thread irrespective of how this resultis accomplished. For example, in some instances the thread is cut by mechanism resembling a knifeblade or shears while in other instances it issevered by beingv broken. The cutter and bindermay be ,a single device or two or more separate devices.

The invention is particularly useful in connectionwith circular-knitting machines having two series of need1es,.bits or other knitting instrumentalities for the production of rib knitting. One seriesof instrumentalities draws the outwardly facing stitches of the fabric and is usually carried on a cylinder .while anotherseries of instrumentalities draws inwardly facing stitches. of the rib fabric and may be carried .on another cylinder or .a dial located above the firstmentioned cylinder. As the two series, of needles or other knitting instrumentalities are located closely adjacent one another to receive th'read from thesame thread feeds andcustomarilyoverlap or are interspersed with one another in certain phases of their operation, the problem ofpositioning loose ends of thread so that they do not become caught in the needles. ismore difficult than in plain knitting machines having .a single series of needles orknitting instrumentalities.

Inaccordancewith the present invention, the difficulties heretofore experienced with defects and cutoffs caused .by loose. ends of th'read resultingfrom ,a thread change are .avoided -by positioning thethread ends in such manner as .to prevent their becoming caught in the-needles during the knitting of a subsequent portion of the fabric. As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the thread is positioned by means of a sharply defined and accurately directed blast .or jet of .air or, other fluid. The means for positioning the threadends is actuated in timed relation withv the making of a thread change so that th thread change and the positioning of the thread .ends are coordinated with Queenother. The. invention is particularly applicable to knitting-. machinesin which the cutter and rectly above the needle cylinder I.

3 binder is located outside the closure defined by the needles or knitting instrumentaflities, for example outside the needle cylinder or above th dial of a dial type rib knitting machine. In such, machines the loose ends of thread resulting from a thread change tend to fall over the needle" path and become caught in the needles during the knitting of subsequent courses.

this difficulty is avoided by tralnsplacing the thread ends to the interior of the needle cylinder where they can not be engaged by the hooks of the needles. In a cylinder and dial. machine, this requires the loose ends of thread to be positioned inside the cylinder and below the dial. In order for the thread ends to get from the outside to the inside of the'needle cylinder in a machine of this type, they have to pass through a narrow opening between th dial and the top of the cylinder. 1

"Since the problem of controllingloose thread ends resulting from'thread changes is particularly difficult in a cylinder and dial rib knitting machine having cutter and binder mechanism located above the dial, the invention is illustrated in the drawings in conjunction with a machine of this type. It will be understood that this illustration is by way of example and that the invention is not limited to cylinder and dial machines. In several views of the drawings parts of the machine have been omitted to simplify the drawings and facilitate understanding the invention.

The machine illustrated in the drawings has a knitting cylinder or needle cylinder 1 carrying a series of needles 2 operated by the usual or any desired cams engaging butts provided on the needles or needle jacks. A corresponding series of sinkers 3 is carried by a sinker ring 4 provided adjacent the top of the needle cylinder. A sinker cap5 at least partially encloses the sinkers and sinker ring and carries suitable cams for operating the sinkers by means of butts 6 with which the sinkers are provided.

A second series of needles or knitting instrumentalities I is carried by a dial 8 located di- The dial needles are provided with butts 9 and are operated by suitable cams carried by or projecting through a nonrotating dial cap ll located above thedial. The cylinder, dial and sinker ring are allrotated in synchronism with one another, provision being made for rotating them continuously in one direction a for example in knitting the leg portion of a sock or alternately in opposite directions as in knitting heel or toe pocket or the foot of a split foot sock.

The machine is provided with yarn feeding means including a series of pattern controlled yarn feed guide fingers I2 adapted to be lowered into operative or feeding position as shown at the'lower side of the series shown in Fig. 2 and raised to inoperative position; One or more of these yarn guides may be arranged to be actuated for splicing or other auxiliary yarn supply and for yarn changes under control of the pattern mechanism of the machine as for example in making a toe tip yarn change in knitting an article of hosiery. When a yarn is withdrawn from knitting it is thrown above the upper surface ofthe dial cap II where it is taken under the clamp or binder'member I3 and is severed by a suitable cutter shown in the form of shears M. The cutter and binder are operated by a lever l5 under control of the patternmechanism of the machine. When a yarn is reintroduced by lowering the corresponding. yarn feed finger [2, the yarn is taken by the needles and the end of the yarn is released by or pulled out of the clamp l3. It will be seen that a loose end of thread ting and when it is reintroduced.

With the method and apparatus of the present invention The operation of the feed fingers 12, the cutter and binder mechanism and other parts of the machine is. controlled automatically by suitable pattern mechanism including a pattern drum l6 which is rotated step-by-step by means of a pattern chain or other suitabl mechanism. The step-by-step movements of the pattern drum are commonly referred to as moves and occur when a change is 'tobe made in the operation of the machine. l l' When the machine is operating by reciprocation, a yarn change is normally made during the forward or counterclockwise motion of the cylinder. Assuming that one yarn is to be substituted for another, the old yarn is taken by the binder and is cut bythe cutter l4 located on top of the dial cap. after the new yarn is picked up from the binder l3 which is likewise located on top of the dial cap. This leaves two loose ends of yarn trailing on top of the dial cap H. These ends tend to drop down on to the needles during the knitting of subsequent courses and cause a defect either by'being knit into the fabric or causing the fabric to be cut.

In accordance with the present invention, the loose ends of threads resulting from a thread change are transplaced through the narrow space between th outside of the dial and the inside of the needle race so as to be inside the cylinder and below the dial. This positioning of the thread ends is effected in timed relation with the operation of the feed fingers l2 and the cutter and binder I 4, [3 so that it occurs immediately after the thread change. The loose ends are thus disposed of before they have any opportunity of becoming caught in the needles during the subsequent knitting operation.

With the apparatus illustrated in the drawings the loose ends of thread are 'transplaced to the inside of the needle cylinder and below the dial by means of an accurately controlled jet or blast of air. The air is supplied through a tube or passageway l8 and valve 20 to a tube or passage 2| (Figs. 3 and 5) which terminates in an orifice or nozzle 22 that is formed and positioned so as to direct a sharply definedrjet or blast of air inwardly and downwardly between the outer edge of the dial cap; and the dial and the upper end of the needle cylinder. The blast is preferably in the form of a well defined stream which may diverge somewhat'laterally but is of limite extent in a vertical direction so as to pass through the narrow space between the cylinder and dial without any substantial portion of .the air being deflected above the dial or downwardly along the outside of the needle cylinder, The point at which the blast is applied is spaced circumferentially of the needle cylinder from the feed fingers l2 so that the air stream does not interfere with the thread feed.

The valve 20 operates automatically to supply compressed air or other pressure fluid to the nozzle momentarily in timed relation with a thread change so as to provide a blast of air or fluid at the proper instant to achieve the effect desired. As illustrated in the drawings, the valve 20 comprises a body portion 23 mounted on the bed plate 24 or other suitable part of the machine and provided with a passageway 25 communicating with the tube I8, a passageway 26 communicatingwith the tube 21, and a valve seat 21 between the two passageways. There is also provided a bore 28 in axial alignment with the valve seat 21. A valve member 30 has a stem portion 31 reciprocable in the bore 28 of the valve body and a head portion 32 having a beveled face adapted to engage the valve seat 21 which is also preferably beveled. At its outer end, i. e. the upper end as shown in Fig. 5, the valve stem 3] isprovided with an enlarged portion or tappet 33 which is preferably threaded on the valve stem so as to be adjustable to vary the opening of the valve and is held in adjusted position by a lock nut 34. A compression spring 35 urges the valve into engagement with the valve seat. When the Valve is closed it is also held seated by the pressure of the air in passageway 25 it being understood that the tube I8 is connected with a compressed air tank or other source of fluid under pressure. A fluid pressure of the order of '15 pounds per square inch has been found satisfactory. A removable plug 36 facilitates assembly of the valve and may also be utilized to adjust the pressure of the valve spring 35.

The valve member 30 is actuated to open the valve by means of an actuating shaft 40 which is supported for angular movement or rotation about its axis and for reciprocable movement in an axial direction by brackets 4| and 42 mounted on the valve body 28. The actuating shaft 40 carries an eccentric or cam 43 which is fixed to the shaft and is adapted to engage the valve member 36. A co-axial spring 44 bearing against a collar 45 on the shaft and the bracket 42 tend to move the shaft 48 outwardly, i. e. to the right, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5 to the extent permitted by a second collar 46. The actuating haft 49 is movable in the opposite direction by means of a pusher arm 41 (Fig. 1) carried at the upper end of a vertical rock shaft 48. A second arm 49 at the lower end of the rock shaft is connected by a link 5| with one end of a bell crank lever 52 which is pivoted at 53 and is provided at its other end with a cam follower portion 54 adapted to be engaged by a cam 55 on the pattern drum 16. When the cam follower 54 rides up on cam 55 the valve actuating shaft 45 is pushed inwardly toward the needle cylinder by the pusher arm 41 against the action of spring 44. The shaft is thereupon held in its inner position by the engagement of a spring latch 56 with a pin or abutment 51 which projects from the collar 46 in a direction approximately parallel to the shaft 40. Th latch 56 is pivoted to the bracket 42 at '58 and has a light spring 59 tending to swing it toward the actuating shaft 49. The upper end of the latch is preferably inclined or beveled as indicated at 6| in Fig. 4.

At the inner end of the valve actuating shaft 40 there is provided a radially projecting arm 62. The arm 62 is rotatably attached to the shaft 40 by a screw stud 63. Angular movement of the arm 62 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 brings the arm against a pin or abutment 64 on an arm 65 fixed to the shaft and thereby rotates the shaft in the same direction. Angular movement of the arm 62 in the opposite direction does not rotate the shaft 40 but merely swings the arm away from the abutment 64 against the action of a light spring 66 extending between the swinging arm 62 and the fixed arm 65.

. The valve 20. is mounted in. such position that when the actuating shaft 40 is in its inner position the arm 62 is engageable by an arcuate cam 68 which is carried by a part rotatable in synchronism with the knitting cylinder. As shown in the drawings, the arcuate cam 68 is mounted on the sinker ring 4. It will be seen from Fig. 3, where the cam 68 is shown in cross section, that the cam is provided with a downwardly projecting rim 69 to form a cam track 18. At one end, namely the leading end when the cylinder is rotating in a clockwise direction, the cam 68 is inclined as indicated at 1| in Fig. 4. At or near the opposite or trailing end of the cam a gap 12 is provided in the rim 69 and the cam track 10 is inclined outwardly away from the center of the needle cylinder so as to move the arm 62 and shaft 49 to the right as viewed in Fig. 3.

The operation of the mechanism described above for positioning the loose ends of yarn resulting from a yarn change made during operation of the machine by reciprocation is as follows. The yarn change is made during the forward or counter clockwise motion of the cylinder. At any time after the arcuate cam 68 has passed the arm 62 on the forward swing of the machine, the valve mechanism is set or conditioned by operation of the pusher arm 41 to push' the actuating shaft 46 in toward the cylinder. This is effected by the cam follower 54 riding up on the cam block 55 on the pattern drum [6. The cam follower rides completely over the cam block in a single move of the pattern drum so that the pusher arm 41 is given only a momentary push. The actuating shaft 40 of the Valve mechanism is held in its inner position by engagement of the stop pin 51 with the spring latch 56.

On the backward or clockwise swing of the cylinder, the arcuate cam 68 engages the upwardly projecting arm 62 on the inner end of the actuating shaft 40 and rocks the shaft in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, causing the eccentric or cam 43 on the shaft to press the valve plunger downwardly and thereby open the valve to supply air to the blower pipe 2|. The blast of air thus supplied blows the loose ends of yarn resulting from the yarn change inwardly between the cylinder and dial to a position inside the cylinder and below the dial. The downwardly projecting rim 69 of the arcuate cam 68 engages the arm 52 to prevent the actuating shaft 40 from being moved outwardly until the trailing end of the cam 68 is reached. The outward inclination of the cam track 10 at the trailing end of the cam thereupon acts on the arm 62 to kick the actuating shaft 40 outwardly. As the shaft 40 is still in the angular position to which it has been rocked by engagement of the arcuate cam 68 with the upwardly projecting arm 62, the end of the stop pin 51 passes above the spring latch '56 and hence permits the outward movement of the shaft. As soon as the cam 68 rides off of the upwardly projecting arm 62 the air pressure and the spring 35 acting on the valve plunger 36 rocks the shaft 40 back to its original position by pushing upwardly on the operating cam 43. The pin 51 engages the inclined upper end Bl (Fig. 4) of the latch 56 and swings it out against the action of its spring 59 as the shaft 40 is rotated by the valve plunger.

It will be seen from the above description that the valve mechanism is subject to a dual control, being conditioned or set by the pusher arm 41 under control of the pattern mechanism of the machine and being thereafter actuated by the cam 68 which rotates in synchronism with'the needle cylinder. The pattern mechanism thus coordinates the operation of the valve mechanism with the making of a thread change while the duration and exact timing of the blast are determined by the rotation of the needle cylinder. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings the duration of the blast is approximately equal to half a revolution of the cylinder and occurs during the passage of the needles located on the sole side of the cylinder.

If the actuating shaft 40 should inadvertently be pushed inwardly when the cylinder is turning in a forward direction and before the cam 68 has swung past the valve mechanism the arm 62 is swung over in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 without rotating the shaft 40. Inadvertent opening of the valve or possible damage tothe valve mechanism is thereby avoided.

To prevent the air blast from being broken up by the needles and provide a more direct force to blow the loose ends of yarn in under the dial, the needles are preferably drawn down out of the way during the operation of the blast. This is effected by a drawn down cam (Fig. l) which operates during the forward swing of the machine to draw the needles downwardly below the upper end of the needle cylinder. The needles stay down during the balance of the for- Ward swing and also on the backward swing while the air blast is in operation, being raised by the regular stitch cams at the knitting station adjacent the yarn fingers 12. The cam 75 is controlled by the pattern mechanism of the machine through suitable linkage (not shown) and is in operative position only momentarily, being operated by a lever that rides completely over a cam block on the main pattern drum during a single long move to the pattern drum when a yarn change is made.

The dial of the machine is preferably also raised during operation of the air blast so as to provide a wider space through which the thread ends can be blown and to prevent the dial from splitting the air jet. The raising the dial may be effected by any suitable mechanism as for example a lever Ti operated through suitable linkage (not shown) by the pattern mechanism of the machine and engaging an adjustable screw 18 carriedby a collar 19 rotatable on the dial spindle 80.

Although the mechanism has been described above as operatin during the back swing of the needle cylinder, it would be operable in similar manner during continuous circular knitting as for example for use in conjunction with horizontal striping. In this case the air jet would prefably'be located on the opposite side of the machine so that the loose ends of yarn would be blown inwardly at a point beyond the cutter and binder and ahead of the feeding station. The operation of the arcuate cam 68 would of course be reversed so as to function during rotation of the needle cylinder in a forward or counterclockwise direction. The pusher arm for conditioning the valve mechanism would preferably be operated from the horizontal drum that controls the horizontal striping rather than from the main pattern drum as described above.

While a specific embodiment has been illustrated and described to facilitate understanding our invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this embodiment but is susceptible to variation and modification within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim and desire to secureby Letters'Patent is:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination with a needle cylinder, a dial above the needle cylinder, thread cutter and binder mechanism above said dial, and. means for actuating said cutter and binder, of means'for directing a blast of air inwardly between said cylinder and dial to blow loose ends of threads severed by said cutter into the space inside the cylinder and below the dial and means for actuating said last mentioned means in coordination with the actuation of said cutter and binder.

2. .In a knitting machine, the combination with a needle cylinder, a series of needles operable in said cylinder, a second series of knitting instrumentalities located above said needle cylinder, means for feeding thread to said needles and instrurnentalities and means for effecting a thread change, of means for directing a blast of air inwardly between said needle cylinder and second series of instrumentalities to blow loose ends of thread resulting from said thread change to the interior of said needle cylinder.

3. In a knitting machine the combination with a rotatable knitting cylinder, a series of knitting instrumentalities operable in said cylinder, a second series of, knitting instrumentalities located above said cylinder, means for feeding threadto said instrumentalities and means for efiecting a thread change, of means for momentarily directing a blast of air inwardly between said two series of instrumentalities following said thread change to blow loose ends of thread resulting from said thread change to the interior of said cylinder.

4. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable knitting cylinder, a series of knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder, a second series of knitting instrumentalities above said cylinder, means for feeding thread to said instrumentalities, patter-n control mechm'sm and means controlled by said pattern mechanism for effecting a thread change, of means for directing a blast of air inwardly between said two series of instrumentalities, means for supplying air under pressure to said blast director, valvemechanism for controlling said air supply and means responsive to said pattern mechanism for actuating said valve.

5. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable knitting cylinder, a series of knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder, a second series of knitting instrumentalities above said cylinder, means for feeding thread to saidinstrumentalities and means for effectingv a thread change, of means for directing a blast 'of air inwardly between said two series of instrumentalities to blow loose ends resulting from a thread change to the interior of said cylinder, means for controlling said blast, means for conditioning said control means for actuation and means for actuating said control means.

6. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable knitting cylinder, a series of knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder, a second series of knitting instrumentalities above'said cylinder, means for feeding thread to said instrumentalities, pattern control mechanism and means controlled by said pattern mechanism for efiecting a thread change, of means for directing a blast of air inwardly between. said twoseries of instrumentalities to blow loose ends resulting from a thread change to the interior of said cylinder, means for controlling said blast, means responsive to said pattern mechanism for "I. :In sai circularzknitting :machine, Lthe :com'birnationw'vith 'ia (knitting cylinder irotatab'le alter- :nately :in topposite directions, "a :series ':of iknitrting jinstrumentalities carried by saidicylinder; a 'secondsseries-iofknitting instrumentalities rabove said cylinder, means tfor ffeedingt thread to .said .instrumenta'lities'and means -'c-hange,-1of .means *for directingaxblast of air inwardly "between said two series of instrumentalit-iesptoi'blow. loose. endsof thread resulting from a threadchange toithei interior of said cylinder, means for controlling said blast, means operated during' rotation of ithe'. knitting cylinder in one direction to condition said control means 'for actuation and means operated during rotation of the knitting cylinder in the opposite direction to actuate said controlmeans.

BLIn a circular knittinglmachine, the combination with a knitting cylinder rotatable alternatelyi in opposite "directions, a series oiknitting instru'mentalities carried by said cylinder, a secnd series of knitting instrumentalities above said cylinden meansfor feeding thread to saidinstrumentalities and meansfor'eifecting a'thread change, of meansfordirecting a blast of air inwardly between said twoseries of instrumentalities to blow loose ends of thread'resultingfrom a thread change to the interior of said cylinder, means for controlling said blast, means operated during rotation of the knitting cylinder in one direction to actuate said control means and means for preventing actuation of said control means during rotation of the knitting cylinder in the opposite direction.

9. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable knitting cylinder, a series of knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder, a second series of knitting instrumentalities above said cylinder, means for feeding thread to said instrumentalities and means for effecting a thread change, of means for directing a blast of air inwardly between said two series of instrumentalities, means for supplying air under pressure to said blast director and valve mechanism for controlling said supply of air comprising a body portion having a passageway therein, a valve member flow of air through said passageway, an actuating member, means for setting said actuating member and means for moving said actuating member to actuate said valve.

10. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable knitting cylinder, a series of knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder, a second series of knitting instrumentalities above said cylinder, means for feeding thread to said instrumentalities and means for effecting a thread change, of means for directing a blast of air inwardly between said two series of instrumentalities, means for supplying air under pressure to said blast director and valve for controlling said supply of air comprising a body portion having a passageway therein, a valve member movable to control the flow of air through said passageway, an actuating member, means for setting said actuating member, means for moving said actuating memher to actuate said valve and means for thereafter restoring said actuating member toits initial position.

11. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable knitting cylinder, a series of knitting instrumentalities carried by said foreffectinga thread movable to control the IIO cylinder, aa second series of knitting instrumentalities above said-cylinder, means for feeding thread to said in'strumentalities and means for effecting a threadzchangeof means for directing a 'blast 0f air -inwardlylbetween said two series of instrumentalities, means for supplying air under pressure to said blast director and-valve mechanism for controlling said supply of air comprising a body 1 portion having =a-passageway therein, a

valve: member movable to controlthe flow ofair --JhI0U.gh said passageway, an --actuating member having two modes ofmovement, means formovin -said-valve actuating'membenone mode of movement -to condition it for actuation-and means for :moving -"said:actuating 1 member in another mode otmovement toactuate said valve.

12. Inea kn-itting machine having a needle'cylinder,: an attachment for positioning thread ends relative to the needle cylinder of tlie =ma'chi-ne, comprising means for i direct-inga' blast of -air in a predetermined i location and direction, :means f or supplying air: under: pressure to said blast director and-valverxmechanism for controlling: said air supply, comprisingra valvecbody having apassageway 'thereima lvalvermember m'ovable -tocontrol the flow oi aair through said passageway,...an' actuating member, means for aconditiomng zsaid actuating memb er: forzaactuation rand; meansif or moving "said actuating membervtoaopen 'saidtvalve.

13. Inaknittingtmachine,:having a'neefdle cylinder, an attachment for positioning thread ends relative to the needle cylinder of the machine, comprising means for directing a blast of air in a predetermined location and direction, means for supplying air under pressure to said blast director and valve mechanism for controlling said air supply, comprising a valve body having a passageway therein, a valve member movable to control the flow of air through said passageway, an actuating member, and means for moving said actuatin member in one direction to condition it for actuation and in another direction to open said valve.

14. In a knitting machine, having a needle cylinder, an attachment for positioning thread ends relative to the needle cylinder of the machine, comprising means for directing a blast of air in a predetermined location and direction, means for supplying air under pressure to said blast director and valve mechanism for controlling said air supply, comprising a valve body having a passageway therein, a valve member movable to control the flow of air through said passageway and an actuating member movable axially to condition it for actuation and movable angularly to open said valve.

15. In a knitting machine, having a needle cylinder, an attachment for positioning thread ends relative to the needle cylinder of the machine, comprising means for directing a blast of air in a predetermined location and direction, means for supplying air under pressure to said blast director and valve mechanism for controlling said air supply, comprising a valve body having a passageway therein, a valve member movable to control the flow of air through said passageway, an actuating member, means for moving said actuating member to set position, means for releasably holding said actuating member in set position, means for moving said actuating member to open said valve and means for returning said actuating member to its initial position.

16. In a circular knitting machine the combination with a rotatable needle cylinder, of means for directing a blast of air in a predetermined location and direction relative to said cylinder a valve controlling the supply of air to said blast directing means, an actuating element for said valve, a cam moved in synchronism with the rotation of said needle cylinder, said actuating element being normallyout of the path of movement of said cam and means for moving said actuating element into .position to be actuated by said cam to open said valve.

17. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotatable knitting cylinder, a series of knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder, a second series of knitting instrumentalities above said cylinder, mean for feeding thread to said instrumentalities, of means for directing a blast of air inwardly between said two series of instrumentalities to blow loose ends of threads to the interior of said cylinder and means for concurrently withdrawing said instrumentalities out of the path of said blast.

18. In the art of knitting on a circular knitting machine having a knitting cylinder and two series of knitting instrumentalities, the steps of feeding yarn to said instrumentalities and manipulating said instrumentalities to produce knitted fabric making a yarn change while continuing the process of knitting, and thereupon blowing loose yarn ends resulting from said yarn change between said series of instrumentalities and to the interior of said knitting cylinder.

19. In the art of knitting on a circular knitting REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 255,945 Denton Apr. 4, 1882 1,282,958 Scott Oct. 29, 1918 1,301,673 Feig Apr. 22, 1919 2,269,757 Davis -1 Jan. 13, 1942 2,275,276 Williams Mar. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 426,253 France Apr. 28, 1911 

